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Kenny must urgently facilitate Dáil debate on CETA - Carthy

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has urged Taoiseach Enda Kenny to urgently facilitate a Dáil debate on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union.

He added that the Government needs to stop what he termed its "unthinking cheerleading" of the controversial trade deal.

His comments came after overnight developments in Wallonia regarding its parliament's position on CETA.

Matt Carthy said:

“The ‘deal’ brokered this morning between the Walloon Parliament and the European Commission in relation to CETA doesn’t change anything.

"The text has not changed, the Chapter on Investment Protection has not been removed.

"It remains a very bad deal for Irish workers, consumers and farmers. It is bad for democracy and would undermine the Irish judicial system and the Irish Government should strongly oppose it.

“The pressure put on the Wallonian Government has been immense.

"The only Parliament to stand up for the wishes of their people, has now fallen foul of the same deception, double dealing and political pressure we’ve seen time and time again from the European Commission.

"Last minute threats to usurp the decision making process highlights the fact that this Commission has absolutely no regard for parliamentary sovereignty or democracy.

"Subsidiarity in favour of national parliaments, as promised by those advocating for the Lisbon Treaty, has turned out to be a joke.

“Yesterday evening a draft declaration by the Walloon Parliament emerged, setting out the conditions that would have to be met before they would authorise their Government to sign the agreement.

"This text set out that according to its own Constitutional process, it would not be possible to ratify CETA.

"It stated that Chapter 8 on Investment Protection was unacceptable in its current form and that more discussion on regulatory cooperation was required.

“This morning, that text has disappeared and the only assurance that appears to have been given is a safeguard clause for consumers and farmers in case of imbalances.

"The main issue of the provisional application of the Investment Chapter on ISDS/ICS remains unresolved with the European Commission steamrolling ahead, despite reports that Canada was willing to sacrifice it.

“Despite these latest developments and radio silence from Fine Gael, the campaign against CETA elsewhere continues.

"Yesterday 105 French Members of Parliament sent a letter to President Hollande asking him to vote against provisional application and demanding a debate in Parliament.

“Wallonia’s 'No' should be a wake-up call for the Irish Government.

"In light of the significant Seanad vote to reject CETA, the Irish Government must cease its unthinking cheerleading of CETA and urgently facilitate a Dáil debate on this controversial and dangerous deal .”